Swamp Ghost

michaelharadon · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 12:31 pm

Where is she now? What's the latest news?

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 12:44 pm

still rotting away in a warehouse

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:29 pm

Where's the warehouse?

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 2:16 pm

the same island that it has been on for the last 65+ years.

Robbie Roberts · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:47 pm

Matt Gunsch wrote:

the same island that it has been on for the last 65+ years.

They haven't moved that da*mn island yet?

On a serious note, wish she would COME HOME! AAARRRRGGGHHHHHHHH!!!

Robbie

gary1954 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:46 pm

Yes.....What gives with the Ghost??? Last I heard she was onna boat steamin for the USSA

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:54 pm

http://www.theswampghost.com/

aseanaero · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:36 am

Dealing with a Cocanut Republic (tm) like Papua New Guinea I would say there's a 95% chance it's going nowhere , once the government have said it's an illegal transaction its going to be real hard to get them to make fools of themselves by reversing their decision.

There's way too much publicity on this project for them to quietly let it slip out also which is sometimes the solution to these problems.

........

Cocanut Republic vs Banana Republic - it takes effort to grow and harvest bananas while cocanuts grow themselves and fall off when their ready so you can sit under a tree stoned on betelnut all day.

PNG is without doubt the most dangerous country and primitive country I've set foot in ! Makes Indonesia look like Switzerland in comparison.

A2C · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2009 3:03 am

aseanaero:

Recent photo? Is it a cover photo for Crest or Colegate?

Anyway, I've been to the best of both worlds, Papua, Indo. Wonderful place. I have to disagree about the scariest place. It would have to be Ternate, Id. Been there? Crazy folks with wild looks everywhere.

aseanaero · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2009 3:11 am

I was up in Goroka in the highlands when things were a bit unstable , left a nasty impression. I'd only go back to PNG for a very large suitcase of cash.

I'm going to Sentani (Jayapura) and Wamena airfields in Irian Jaya next month which is in the neighbourhood of Ternate , will let you know my impressions when I get back :-)

Hat's off to the Swamp Ghost recovery team though they got 90% of the way there , while I hope they can eventually get the B-17 out this highlights the uncertainty of these sorts of recoveries now and shows again that a written contract between a local and a foreigner isn't in reality enforceable in this part of the World especially if there's controversy in the local press.

How much to get the B-17 from the jungle to the wharf ? $500,000 ? $1,000,000 ?

In future it would be a better 'gamble' chartering a big Russian cargo aircraft and flying out of the country asap especially for the smaller fighter aircraft and keeping the whole salvage operation under the radar as much as possible until it was done.

Unfortunately it could be 'game over' for warbird salvage out of PNG now.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2009 6:50 am

Wait, it is still in PNG? I thought it was here in the US after being shipped on a boat.

aseanaero · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:22 am

http://www.theswampghost.com/news/pac/final/pac-swamp-ghost-final-report.pdf

If you read the PNG govt public accounts committee report it's interesting as it lists all the aircraft exported (89) but the recommendations are a bit scary

Quote:

36.4 If the Committee is correct in this finding, the State of Papua
New Guinea is the owner of a very large Aviation Museum –
irrespective of where those aircraft may now be. It is very
important that State ownership of those aircraft be reasserted
to the benefit of the State of Papua New Guinea and its
people.

If you read the Swamp Ghost website , they have to build an aviation musuem , BBQ etc etc and then the govt will let it go but there are locals still saying the B-17 should go back in the swamp ! :roll:

Holedigger · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:27 am

Well, it is a complex and sticky situation. Removing something considered a "item of cultural heritage", government entities that can't seem to make a decision on who actually has jurisdiction, locals who don't care what the government says and wants to keep their "tourist magnets" (and that's in Canada! Much more complicated in PNG!!!) :wink:

Then throw in the question of are you desecrating a grave, who do you have to pay off, how much trouble you are in for paying off party X and not party Y....and then just the cost of extracting the bird! After that, make sure your papers are in order or it will be seized and scrapped by the gubbament! Not for the faint of heart or thin of budget.

PinecastleAAF · **Joined:** Fri May 25, 2007 4:50 pm **Posts:** 1028

I wonder what the total dollar amount is for people who have been scammed buying warbirds or parts that were never delivered. Someone sure spent a bundle here for naught.

gary1954 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:40 am

Hmmmmm....... I'd say the situation basically or as is the buzz word in Washington - "basically" has been officially changed to "Fundementally"
Sucks. This true Warbird is destined to rot to such a state, that even P.A. would rub is own chin, and probably someone elses, in the pondering of cost of returning the B-17 to the air, or just being satisfied with photographs. These power junkies..........Gawd.......I can't stand them!! Greedy little shi....well never mind, but you could flush 'em ifin you know what I mean. :evil:

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